Runners take their spots at the starting line of the Cellcom 5K run/walk. / Scott Cooper Williams/Press-Gazette Media

Runners take their spots at the starting line of the Cellcom 5K run/walk. / Scott Cooper Williams/Press-Gazette Media

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It goes against the nature of marathon runners to stop before they reach the finish line.

So after last year’s aborted Cellcom Green Bay Marathon, competitors are anxious to go the distance in Sunday’s event.

“Oh, I’m ready,” said Trisha Sellen of Green Bay, who will be running in her third Cellcom.

Picking up her registration materials on Saturday, Sellen said she hopes for comfortable conditions and a smooth event to make up for last year’s disappointment.

“Last year was a bummer,” she said. “I’m pretty excited to do it over again.”

The 26.2-mile marathon was canceled in mid-race last year amid hot and humid conditions that sent 18 competitors to the hospital and caused dozens of others to become ill.

To guard against such problems Sunday, organizers will station more medical personnel along the race route and take other precautions. It also helps that weather forecasters are predicting much milder temperatures than the 80-degree-plus heat that wreaked havoc a year ago.

“It should be perfect,” said Will Phillips of Manistique, Mich., also a three-time Cellcom competitor.

Runners arrived in a steady stream Saturday inside Lambeau Field to pick up their registrations and bib assignments. The race kicks off at 7 a.m. Sunday, with an estimated 7,000 runners registered for either the full marathon or half marathon.

Kikuji Yanagihashi, 57, of Fond du Lac, said age has slowed him somewhat, but he still enjoys the camaraderie and the spirit of competition. He will be running in his fifth Cellcom Sunday.

“Look at everybody: They seem stronger than me,” he said. “My goal is to just finish.”

Confusion and disappointment were widespread last year when organizers canceled the race about two hours after it had started. Some runners finished, but others encountered barricades or crossed the finish line only to discover that their times had not been recorded.

Don Nack of Plover, who ran in his first Cellcom last year, is returning Sundaywith high hopes.

“I couldn’t finish last year,” he said, “so this is kind of like closing a chapter that’s still open.”

The Cellcom marathon, now in its 14th year, is the second largest full marathon in Wisconsin, behind the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon.

Over the past 13 years, the event has raised more than $600,000 for local charities through runner registration fees. This year’s event will benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeastern Wisconsin, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin in Brown County, and Unity hospice services.

Conditions were cool and breezy Saturday as hundreds of runners turned out for a 5K and a kids run — both precursors to Sunday’smain event.

More than 3,700 adult and child runners lined up for the Cellcom Green Bay 5K run/walk, which started outside Lambeau but led participants to a finish line inside the historic football stadium. The stadium’s interior was off-limits last year because of renovation work.

For Scott Whitman of Manistique, Mich., his first Cellcom 5K was all about getting to run inside Lambeau.

“I’m a Packer fan,” he said, “and I’ve got to get out there, through the tunnel and onto the field.”

Many runners were entering their first 5K of any kind. Some felt trepidation about the 3.1-mile test of endurance.

Kristi Rolbiecki of Green Bay said it would be the start of a new healthier lifestyle for her.

“It was time to get off the couch,” she said.

Children competed with groups from school, or some paired up with their mothers or fathers.

Steve Gatewood of Green Bay ran alongside his 10-year-old son, Max. It was not the first 5K for either of them, and they were looking forward to a little playful competition with each other.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Steve said. “I don’t know that he’s going to be able to keep up with me.”